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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI USA: BLAIR COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Kick-Off Statewide EMS Workforce Recruitment Initiative

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    May 14, 2025 – Altoona, PA

    ADVISORY – BLAIR COUNTY – Shapiro Administration to Kick-Off Statewide EMS Workforce Recruitment Initiative

    Department of Health (DOH) Executive Deputy Secretary Kristen Rodack will join first responders in Altoona to kick-off a new statewide initiative to recruit residents interested in becoming EMS professionals.

    As part of National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, May 18-24, Pennsylvania Regional EMS councils and agencies will be hosting career events across the state where Pennsylvanians can meet EMS professionals and learn about local career opportunities and trainings.

    The first two events will be held in Blair and Mercer counties on Sunday, May 18.

    Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 budget adds $6 million more a year for the next three years to the Emergency Medical Services Operating Fund, which would be disbursed through the 13 regional EMS councils to local stations. In 2023, he secured $20.7 million to increase Medicaid reimbursement for service and mileage rates for ambulance services, promoting access to health care and ensuring that EMS agencies are properly reimbursed for their critical care.

    Recruiting and retaining EMS first responders is vital to Pennsylvania’s health care system as they provide 24-hour emergency medical services, seven days a week. In 2024 alone, over 1,200 emergency agencies responded to more than 2 million calls for service.

    WHO:
    Pennsylvania Executive Deputy Secretary of Health, Kristen Rodack
    Chief of AMED, Gary Watters
    Southern Allegheny Emergency Medical Services Regional Council Director, Jordan Anthony
    EMS student

    WHEN:
    Wednesday, May 14 at 1:30 PM

    WHERE:
    AMED Authority EMS Station
    1st Floor, Training Room
    1012 7 Avenue
    Altoona, PA 16602

    MEDIA RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP with the name of the reporter and photojournalist to ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Staying socially connected can help maintain healthy eating with age, especially for older women

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Annalijn I. Conklin, Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia

    Older people who are socially isolated have poor diet quality compared to those with frequent friend contact.
    (Shutterstock)

    Healthy eating supports healthy aging: Canada’s Food Guide recommends daily intake of fruits and vegetables as a way to help prevent multiple chronic conditions that typically affect older adults.

    We know that healthy eating is strongly influenced by our social connections and different settings. But aging often brings losses to different social connections that can put healthy eating at risk.

    As researchers who study the interaction of nutrition, age and social issues, we were curious to know if adverse changes in an older person’s social connections matter for maintaining a good diet, and who is most affected?

    Social isolation and social diversity change with age

    There is broad health research focused on social isolation that measures this concept at one point in time using a combination of different types of social contexts such as living alone, infrequent social contact, no social participation and not married.

    About one in five aging adults reduces the variety of their social engagement.
    (Shutterstock)

    Social isolation, however, is not a static experience as aging adults frequently go through changes in different types of social relationships, often reducing their social contacts and activities over time.

    Our recent research shows that the number of different social activities decreases over time for middle-age and older adults.

    About one in five aging adults reduces the variety of their social engagement (for example, seeing friends and family, volunteering, sports, religious and educational activities, etc.), with greater declines seen among older women.

    In addition, about 14 per cent of aging Canadians either became socially isolated or stayed socially isolated over time. Canadians in the oldest age group and in more socio-economically disadvantaged groups appear most vulnerable to staying or becoming either socially isolated or less socially diverse over time.

    It is important, then, for research on nutrition and healthy aging to better capture distinct alterations in social engagement over time, not only in terms of a lack of regular social interaction but also in terms of a diversity of social interactions.

    Dietary risks of changing social connections

    Both the quantity and the quality of the foods we eat can be affected by our meal setting, and eating alone is correlated with poor diet quality.

    Eating alone is correlated with poor diet quality.
    (Shutterstock)

    Among older adults, being socially isolated is linked to inadequate intakes of fruits and vegetables — a marker of diet quality that is associated with chronic disease. More specifically, both older men and women with no or rare friend contact have poor diet quality compared to those with frequent friend contact.

    It has been unclear whether staying or becoming socially isolated is a problem for maintaining healthy eating habits as people age. It is also unknown whether reducing the variety of social activities puts diet quality at risk of declining.

    The handful of nutrition studies that do consider changes in social connections all focus on marital transitions, leaving a critical gap in knowledge for healthy aging policy and practice.

    Our new study with collaborators is filling this knowledge gap by using multiple waves from a nationally representative cohort of middle-aged and older Canadians.

    The first important finding is that older women who stayed socially isolated — meaning one or no monthly activity — reduced their diet quality over time compared to women who stayed engaged in two or more monthly social activities.

    The second notable finding is the older women who reduced their diversity of social activities also had declines in diet quality over time. And finally, both older women and older men who had a small number of social activities that stayed the same over time were also at risk of declining diet quality.

    These results were not explained by other social or behavioural factors that were included in the study’s analysis.

    Social interventions to support healthy eating

    Canada’s healthy aging strategy and Food Guide both emphasize the important role of social connections for maintaining health and healthy eating. There have long been programs, such as Meals on Wheels, that support health and well-being by providing hot, nutritious meals to individuals, especially older adults, who are home-bound.

    Both older women and older men who had low social diversity over time were also at risk of declining diet quality.
    (Shutterstock)

    Maintaining regular and diverse social activities is vital for promoting health and well-being as people transition from mid to later life. Everybody can benefit from not just being connected, but also from staying connected across a range of social settings.

    We want to call attention to the significance of both persistent isolation and losses of social diversity for women’s nutrition and health in Canada. Different types of social connections may matter for women than for men, and their maintenance over time can show different effects on diet and health that need more research and policy action.

    Understanding the social determinants of diet for women is key to addressing health inequities and to tailoring more effective social interventions for aging Canadians, such as social prescribing and other social relational models of care.

    Annalijn I. Conklin receives funding from The Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Michael Smith Health Research BC. Dr. Conklin is affiliated with Obesity Canada.

    Gilciane Ceolin and Sanaz Mehranfar do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Staying socially connected can help maintain healthy eating with age, especially for older women – https://theconversation.com/staying-socially-connected-can-help-maintain-healthy-eating-with-age-especially-for-older-women-254585

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Economics: Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

    May 13, 2025

    UPDATE

    Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

    The collection leverages cognitive science and UMG’s roster of global superstars, adding subtle auditory beats to well-known curated tracks, aiming to help listeners focus, relax, and sleep

    Apple Music is joining forces with Universal Music Group (UMG) to introduce Sound Therapy, an innovative audio wellness collection designed to help listeners attain clearer focus, deeper relaxation, and better sleep.1

    “For years, elevating music’s role in health and wellbeing has been a strategic priority for UMG, linked to a potentially significant commercial opportunity, as well as something that our chairman and CEO, Sir Lucian, and the entire management team are passionate about,” said Michael Nash, UMG’s executive vice president and chief digital officer. “Given Apple’s leadership at the intersection of health and technology, the launch of Sound Therapy represents an important validation of our innovative, science-led Sollos initiative. We look forward to working closely with the team at Apple to expand the ways that music can be harnessed to improve the wellness benefits for its users.”

    “Every day, people around the world make Apple Music part of their daily routine, and we’ve seen incredible engagement around our personalized mood playlists and the new Apple Music Chill radio station,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s co-head. “Now, with Sound Therapy, we’re proud to work alongside UMG and Sollos to bring a new listening experience to Apple Music — one that’s grounded in artistry, shaped by innovation, and designed to support wellness.”

    Available exclusively on Apple Music, Sound Therapy blends songs subscribers already know and love with special sound waves designed to enhance users’ daily routines, while retaining the artist’s original vision. Backed by scientific research and powered by UMG’s proprietary audio technologies, Sound Therapy harnesses the power of sound waves, psychoacoustics, and cognitive science to help listeners relax or focus the mind.

    The collection was crafted by a team of producers, scientists, and audio engineers at Sollos, a groundbreaking music-wellness venture incubated within UMG’s London offices. Sound Therapy features extended, instrumental, and reimagined versions of popular tracks from acclaimed artists such as Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Ludovico Einaudi, AURORA, Jhené Aiko, Chelsea Cutler, and Jeremy Zucker, providing a premium listening experience.

    Sound Therapy features three categories: Focus, Relax, and Sleep. Songs have been enhanced with auditory beats or colored noise to help encourage specific brain responses. Gamma waves and white noise — a whoosh-like combination of every sound frequency — may help with focusing; theta waves could aid in relaxation; and delta waves and pink noise — a deeper, gentler variation akin to rain or wind — might assist in achieving better sleep. A dreamy version of Katy Perry’s “Double Rainbow,” for example, could help listeners drift off to sleep, while an Imagine Dragons track might help them tackle a to-do list. Learn more about Sound Therapy from Apple Music’s Zane Lowe.

    Apple has long been committed to enabling its customers to lead healthier, more active lives through offerings like Apple Watch, HealthKit, and Apple Fitness+. The company will work closely with Sollos and UMG to further establish scientific evidence supporting music and audio for improved wellbeing, and finding inclusive ways to bring these benefits to people around the world.

    Maintain Focus

    The Focus category is designed to support improved cognitive performance and concentration, tapping into the power of gamma auditory beats to help listeners get in the mindset to achieve optimum focus. White noise masks distracting sounds, aiming to help listeners stay in the moment.

    Time to Relax

    Songs in the Relax category are made for letting go, blending and infusing in theta auditory beats to help achieve ultimate relaxation.

    Made for Sleep

    The Sleep category is designed to encourage deeper sleep through an infusion of delta auditory beats or pink noise, which works similarly to white noise but uses natural sounds like rainfall and ocean waves.

    Sound Therapy arrives on the heels of the brand-new Apple Music Chill radio station, created to serve as a sanctuary of sound listeners can turn to throughout their day to seek refuge. The station’s programming is a continuous flow of chill highlights across genres, interspersed with mindful moments meant to remind listeners to make the time to find center and calm. Enjoy the velvety tones of discerning tastemakers like Brian Eno, Stephan Moccio, and Zane Lowe, who expertly take listeners through stories of calm and wellbeing in their own hosted shows.

    About Apple Music Apple loves music. Apple revolutionized the music experience with iPod and iTunes. Today, the award-winning Apple Music celebrates musicians, songwriters, producers, and fans with a catalog of over 100 million songs, expertly curated playlists, and the best artist interviews, conversations, and global premieres with Apple Music Radio. With original content from the most respected and beloved people in music, autoplay, time-synced lyrics, lossless audio, and immersive sound powered by Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, Apple Music offers the world’s best listening experience, helping listeners discover new music and enjoy their favorites while empowering the global artist community. Apple Music is available in over 167 countries and regions on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, Apple Vision Pro, and online at music.apple.com, plus popular smart speakers, smart TVs, and Android and Windows devices. Apple Music is ad-free and never shares consumer data with third parties. More information is available at apple.com/apple-music. About Universal Music Group At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation, and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms, and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information on Universal Music Group, please visit universalmusic.com.

    1. Sound Therapy is designed to support a person’s overall wellbeing. It is not intended to treat any medical condition.

    Press Contacts

    Jessica Bass

    Apple

    jessica_bass@apple.com

    Cat Franich

    Apple

    cfranich@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Dan Goldman Introduces Legislation to Extend Student Loan Forgiveness to Volunteer Firefighters and First Responders

    Source: US Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10)

    80,000 Volunteer Firefighters Across New York State, Nearly Half of NY EMS Agencies Rely Solely on Volunteers   

       

    PSLF Encourages Public Service Enrollment in Fields Where Limited Staffing Jeopardizes Emergency Response Efforts  

       

    Volunteer Firefighters Account for 65% of U.S. Firefighting Force  

       

    Read the HEROES Act of 2025 Here  

    Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Student Debt (HEROES) Act of 2025, which would expand eligibility for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program to include volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMTs.  

    “Volunteer firefighters and EMTs risk their lives every day to keep us safe, yet they’re too often denied the recognition and support granted to other public servants,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “As the number of volunteer firefighters and EMTs continues to decline, we must prioritize the first responders who keep communities across our city, state, and country safe. Those who put their lives on the line deserve nothing less than the full support and resources afforded to all public servants.”

    The Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) said, “One of the biggest challenges facing volunteer response agencies is the critical need to attract new members. Including volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program would be an effective addition to their recruitment toolbox. It would also assist them in retaining existing volunteers, who often work several jobs in addition to volunteering. We commend Congressman Goldman for recognizing the value of volunteer first responders and for his efforts to support them.”  

    Volunteer firefighters are estimated to save localities across the country nearly 47 billion dollars annually. The HEROES Act would not only provide crucial support to our dedicated first responders but also help address staffing shortages by incentivizing more individuals to volunteer their time.  

    Established to bolster recruitment and retention efforts in the public sector, the PSLF Program forgives borrowers’ student loans after they work for ten years in a qualifying public service and make 120 qualifying payments. Despite working in qualifying public services, however, volunteer EMTs and firefighters are currently excluded from the program. Nationwide, volunteer firefighters make up 65% of the firefighting force, with 19,000 fire stations relying on them exclusively.  

    In addition to expanding coverage to volunteer firefighters and EMTs, the HEROES Act would require the Department of Education, which oversees the PSLF program, to outline minimum volunteer time requirements for eligibility and develop regulations for tracking and verifying volunteer time.  

    Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to supporting first responders who dedicate their lives to the betterment of their communities.   

    This past February, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act’ which would provide permanent and mandatory funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and update an outdated funding formula to prevent a future funding shortfall, ensuring survivors and first responders don’t lose access to care.  
    In February, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act,’ which would ensure the families of law enforcement officers who are killed as a result of their work on behalf of their communities are not unjustly denied benefits due to arbitrary retirement status restrictions. The legislation would amend the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program to ensure the families of fallen officers receive the benefits they deserve.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Banking: Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

    May 13, 2025

    UPDATE

    Universal Music Group and Apple Music announce Sound Therapy

    The collection leverages cognitive science and UMG’s roster of global superstars, adding subtle auditory beats to well-known curated tracks, aiming to help listeners focus, relax, and sleep

    Apple Music is joining forces with Universal Music Group (UMG) to introduce Sound Therapy, an innovative audio wellness collection designed to help listeners attain clearer focus, deeper relaxation, and better sleep.1

    “For years, elevating music’s role in health and wellbeing has been a strategic priority for UMG, linked to a potentially significant commercial opportunity, as well as something that our chairman and CEO, Sir Lucian, and the entire management team are passionate about,” said Michael Nash, UMG’s executive vice president and chief digital officer. “Given Apple’s leadership at the intersection of health and technology, the launch of Sound Therapy represents an important validation of our innovative, science-led Sollos initiative. We look forward to working closely with the team at Apple to expand the ways that music can be harnessed to improve the wellness benefits for its users.”

    “Every day, people around the world make Apple Music part of their daily routine, and we’ve seen incredible engagement around our personalized mood playlists and the new Apple Music Chill radio station,” said Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s co-head. “Now, with Sound Therapy, we’re proud to work alongside UMG and Sollos to bring a new listening experience to Apple Music — one that’s grounded in artistry, shaped by innovation, and designed to support wellness.”

    Available exclusively on Apple Music, Sound Therapy blends songs subscribers already know and love with special sound waves designed to enhance users’ daily routines, while retaining the artist’s original vision. Backed by scientific research and powered by UMG’s proprietary audio technologies, Sound Therapy harnesses the power of sound waves, psychoacoustics, and cognitive science to help listeners relax or focus the mind.

    The collection was crafted by a team of producers, scientists, and audio engineers at Sollos, a groundbreaking music-wellness venture incubated within UMG’s London offices. Sound Therapy features extended, instrumental, and reimagined versions of popular tracks from acclaimed artists such as Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Ludovico Einaudi, AURORA, Jhené Aiko, Chelsea Cutler, and Jeremy Zucker, providing a premium listening experience.

    Sound Therapy features three categories: Focus, Relax, and Sleep. Songs have been enhanced with auditory beats or colored noise to help encourage specific brain responses. Gamma waves and white noise — a whoosh-like combination of every sound frequency — may help with focusing; theta waves could aid in relaxation; and delta waves and pink noise — a deeper, gentler variation akin to rain or wind — might assist in achieving better sleep. A dreamy version of Katy Perry’s “Double Rainbow,” for example, could help listeners drift off to sleep, while an Imagine Dragons track might help them tackle a to-do list. Learn more about Sound Therapy from Apple Music’s Zane Lowe.

    Apple has long been committed to enabling its customers to lead healthier, more active lives through offerings like Apple Watch, HealthKit, and Apple Fitness+. The company will work closely with Sollos and UMG to further establish scientific evidence supporting music and audio for improved wellbeing, and finding inclusive ways to bring these benefits to people around the world.

    Maintain Focus

    The Focus category is designed to support improved cognitive performance and concentration, tapping into the power of gamma auditory beats to help listeners get in the mindset to achieve optimum focus. White noise masks distracting sounds, aiming to help listeners stay in the moment.

    Time to Relax

    Songs in the Relax category are made for letting go, blending and infusing in theta auditory beats to help achieve ultimate relaxation.

    Made for Sleep

    The Sleep category is designed to encourage deeper sleep through an infusion of delta auditory beats or pink noise, which works similarly to white noise but uses natural sounds like rainfall and ocean waves.

    Sound Therapy arrives on the heels of the brand-new Apple Music Chill radio station, created to serve as a sanctuary of sound listeners can turn to throughout their day to seek refuge. The station’s programming is a continuous flow of chill highlights across genres, interspersed with mindful moments meant to remind listeners to make the time to find center and calm. Enjoy the velvety tones of discerning tastemakers like Brian Eno, Stephan Moccio, and Zane Lowe, who expertly take listeners through stories of calm and wellbeing in their own hosted shows.

    About Apple Music Apple loves music. Apple revolutionized the music experience with iPod and iTunes. Today, the award-winning Apple Music celebrates musicians, songwriters, producers, and fans with a catalog of over 100 million songs, expertly curated playlists, and the best artist interviews, conversations, and global premieres with Apple Music Radio. With original content from the most respected and beloved people in music, autoplay, time-synced lyrics, lossless audio, and immersive sound powered by Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, Apple Music offers the world’s best listening experience, helping listeners discover new music and enjoy their favorites while empowering the global artist community. Apple Music is available in over 167 countries and regions on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod, CarPlay, Apple Vision Pro, and online at music.apple.com, plus popular smart speakers, smart TVs, and Android and Windows devices. Apple Music is ad-free and never shares consumer data with third parties. More information is available at apple.com/apple-music. About Universal Music Group At Universal Music Group, we exist to shape culture through the power of artistry. UMG is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising, and audiovisual content. Featuring the most comprehensive catalogue of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation, and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms, and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. For more information on Universal Music Group, please visit universalmusic.com.

    1. Sound Therapy is designed to support a person’s overall wellbeing. It is not intended to treat any medical condition.

    Press Contacts

    Jessica Bass

    Apple

    jessica_bass@apple.com

    Cat Franich

    Apple

    cfranich@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Begins Action To Remove Ingestible Fluoride Prescription Drug Products for Children from the Market

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    May 13, 2025

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that it is initiating action to remove concentrated ingestible fluoride prescription drug products for children from the market. Unlike toothpaste with fluoride or fluoride rinses, these products are swallowed and ingested by infants and toddlers. They have also never been approved by the FDA. Ingested fluoride has been shown to alter the gut microbiome, which is of magnified concern given the early development of the gut microbiome in childhood. Other studies have suggested and association between fluoride and thyroid disorders, weight gain and possibly decreased IQ.
    “The best way to prevent cavities in children is by avoiding excessive sugar intake and good dental hygiene, not by altering a child’s microbiome. For the same reason that fluoride may kill bacteria on teeth, it may also kill intestinal bacteria important for a child’s health,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “I am instructing our Center for Drug Evaluation and Research to evaluate the evidence regarding the risks of systemic fluoride exposure from FDA-regulated pediatric ingestible fluoride prescription drug products to better inform parents and the medical community on this emerging area. When it comes to children, we should err on the side of safety.”
    The agency has set a goal date of October 31 for completing a safety review and public comment period and for taking appropriate action regarding removal of these products from the market. In conjunction with this evaluation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to disseminate best practices for dental hygiene in children that are feasible, effective and do not alter gut health.
    “Ending the use of ingestible fluoride is long overdue,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “I’m grateful to Commissioner Makary for his leadership on this vital issue — one that directly safeguards the health and development of our children. This decision brings us one step closer to delivering on President Trump’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Several states have taken action to stop fluoridation of drinking water, and fluoride is not added to drinking water in most of Europe or other countries of the world. This action by the FDA is consistent with Secretary Kennedy’s Make American Healthy Again effort to ensure children grow up in a healthy environment.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Inquiries

    Consumer:
    888-INFO-FDA

    Content current as of:
    05/13/2025

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH researchers discover a new tissue biomarker for aggressive breast cancer risk and poorer survival

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    Media Advisory
    Tuesday, May 13, 2025

    Using artificial intelligence, scientists characterized tissue samples from more than 9,000 women.
    What
    Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a series of changes in the architecture and cell composition of connective tissues of the breast, known as stromal tissue, that is associated with an increased risk of developing aggressive breast cancer among women with benign breast disease, and poorer rates of survival among women with invasive breast cancer. This process, which they call stromal disruption, could potentially be used as a biomarker to identify women with benign breast disease who are at high risk of developing aggressive breast cancers, as well as those with breast cancer who may be at increased risk of recurrence or death.
    Such insights could help inform the development of cancer prevention and treatment strategies that target the stromal microenvironment. In addition, stromal disruption is inexpensive to assess and could be widely adopted, particularly in low-resource settings where molecular analysis is impractical or very expensive.
    In the study, the researchers used machine learning to detect subtle changes in the stroma of 4,023 donated samples of healthy breast tissue, 974 biopsies of tissue with benign breast disease, and 4,223 biopsies of tissue with invasive breast cancer.  

    In women who donated healthy breast tissue, the same risk factors associated with aggressive breast cancer— including younger age, having two or more children, being self-reported as Black, obesity, and family history—were also associated with increased stromal disruption, suggesting that those risk factors may act via a common stromal tissue pathway.
    In women with benign breast disease, having substantial stromal disruption on biopsy was associated with a higher risk of developing aggressive breast cancer and more rapid onset of breast cancer than having minimal or no stromal disruption.
    In women with invasive breast cancer, increased stromal disruption was associated with more aggressive disease phenotypes and poorer survival outcomes, particularly for women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, the most common subtype.

    The researchers noted that factors such as chronic inflammation and wound healing play a role in stromal disruption. They emphasized the need for additional studies to determine whether strategies to prevent these tissue changes from occurring, such as lifestyle changes and anti-inflammatory medications, might be beneficial to reduce aggressive breast cancer risk, particularly among high-risk women.
    Who
    Mustapha Abubakar, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute
    Reference
    “Unraveling the role of stromal disruption in aggressive breast cancer etiology and outcomes” appears May 14, 2025, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
    About the National Cancer Institute (NCI): NCI leads the National Cancer Program and NIH’s efforts to dramatically reduce the prevalence of cancer and improve the lives of people with cancer. NCI supports a wide range of cancer research and training extramurally through grants and contracts. NCI’s intramural research program conducts innovative, transdisciplinary basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological research on the causes of cancer, avenues for prevention, risk prediction, early detection, and treatment, including research at the NIH Clinical Center—the world’s largest research hospital. Learn more about the intramural research done in NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI website at cancer.gov or call NCI’s contact center at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Adding More Affordable Mixed-Use Housing in Brooklyn

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the completion of Logan Fountain, a new affordable housing development in the Cypress Hills neighborhood of Brooklyn. The $214 million project transformed a vacant parcel into affordable apartments, transitional housing for homeless families, and new retail space. With 343 total units, the new building includes 173 affordable apartments and 169 units of transitional housing, as well as one unit reserved for a superintendent. The development is a city-state project with investments from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), New York City Department of Social Services (DSS), and New York City Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Since the Governor has taken office, HCR has financed over 7,600 affordable homes in Brooklyn. Logan Fountain continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year housing plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

    “It’s simple: the only way to address the housing crisis is to build more housing,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers deserve a safe, stable and affordable home. By working together with Mayor Adams and our partners in New York City, we can address the needs of New Yorkers and create the types of modern and sustainable homes that uplift communities and allow families to grow.”

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Every day, we are working to make New York City more affordable, and our whole-of-government approach is allowing us to partner with Governor Hochul and the state today to deliver over 340 units of affordable and transitional housing. This project will provide exactly the type of long-term stability our families need to help them thrive — providing them access to on-site services, resources, and housing. We are thrilled to open this world-class building with crucial supports and energy efficient designs that will make a lasting impact on hundreds of families, and which will serve as a model for how we can smartly address our decades-long housing crisis.”

    Apartments are available to households earning up to 70 percent of the Area Median Income. Of the 173 affordable apartments, there are 105 supportive apartments with onsite social services including case management, career counseling, mental health support, and referrals to healthcare. Logan Fountain was designed to appeal to families of different sizes and has a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Additionally, the building includes ground-floor retail, play areas, fitness space, and a courtyard.

    Logan Fountain will also host 169 units of transitional housing for families. Designed with trauma-informed principles, HELP New Leaf will offer critical support for families including clinical care, employment counseling, and housing placement support.

    Logan Fountain’s sustainability measures include rooftop solar panels for on-site energy generation, a Variant Refrigerant Flow heating and cooling system that captures and repurposes heat already in the environment, as well as ENERGY STAR (r) appliances.

    The project to redevelop the vacant site into a mixed-use hub for families was identified in the New York City Department of City Planning’s East New York Neighborhood Plan. The project’s developer is Hudson Companies, Jericho Project is providing the onsite support services, and HELP USA is operating the transitional housing within the building.

    The 173 affordable and supportive apartments at Logan Fountain are supported by HCR’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program which generated nearly $50 million in equity and $18 million of long-term bond financing from its Housing Finance Agency.

    The site is also participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and will be eligible for approximately $9 million in tax credits to be issued by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Operational funding for the 105 supportive apartments is being provided by the New York City 15/15 Supportive Housing Program. DSS’s 30-year contract facilitates financing for the development and not-for-profit ownership of the 169 units of transitional housing.

    Additional support included $24 million from HPD’s Supportive Housing Loan Program, $1 million in discretionary capital funding from the New York City Council, and over $150,000 in incentives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

    New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “HCR’s investment in affordable housing will bring benefits to Brooklyn’s Cypress Hills community for generations to come. With affordable apartments, family-friendly amenities, and energy-efficient features, Logan Fountain demonstrates the potential housing can have on the lives of New Yorkers and the future of our neighborhoods. We thank Governor Hochul for her dedication to addressing the housing crisis in Brooklyn, and we appreciate the continued collaboration and support from City Hall and our partner agencies.”

    NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen Harris said, “Reimagining vacant infrastructure by incorporating the latest sustainable building technologies moves New York State forward in its just and equitable transition to a clean energy economy. The transformation of Logan Fountain will help to meet the diverse, local needs of the Brooklyn community, while creating comfortable, and affordable spaces for future generations.”

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Cleaning up environmental pollution in communities like Brooklyn unlocks investments in critical needs like affordable housing, transitional housing services, and commercial development. New York State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program is a vital tool that supports community revitalization across the state and the Logan Fountain project in Cypress Hills is a prime example of how this successful cleanup program is helping advance Governor Hochul’s continued efforts to increase affordable, sustainable housing statewide while also protecting public health and the environment.”

    New York City Housing Preservation and Development Acting Commissioner Ahmed Tigani said, “Turning a former gas station into the largest project of its kind in New York City with affordable homes, supportive services, and transitional shelter all under one roof shows what real public-private partnership can deliver. Logan Fountain is a powerful example of what’s possible when we rethink how underused land can serve our communities. These 105 supportive homes, along with critical onsite care, reflect a new model for housing that prioritizes stability, dignity, and opportunity.”

    New York City Department of Homeless Services Administrator Joslyn Carter said, “The Logan Fountain is an exemplary project that transforms underutilized city space into much-needed supportive and transitional housing for vulnerable families. At DHS, we are committed to reimagining the shelter system through innovative high-quality models and strong provider partnerships that enhance our delivery of services and strengthen pathways to long-term housing stability for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. We are grateful to our partners at HELP USA, The Hudson Companies, and others as we continue to raise the bar on the physical infrastructure of our shelter system.”

    U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said, “I’m proud that the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit that I worked hard to protect and expand has generated $68 million to help build Logan Fountain in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn — a new development with 174 affordable apartments and a 169-unit family shelter with on-site support services. I applaud Governor Hochul’s efforts to create and preserve affordable homes across the state, especially for vulnerable New Yorkers, and I will continue working to deliver the federal resources needed for more affordable housing options.”

    State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “This is an incredible addition to the Cypress Hills neighborhood. By providing affordable housing alongside comprehensive wraparound services, Logan Fountain sets a standard for how we should address community needs — strengthening families, supporting vulnerable New Yorkers, and building more resilient neighborhoods.”

    Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said, “I am thrilled to see what was once a vacant gas station transformed into a vibrant mixed-use facility with more than 300 units of housing, including transitional housing for our most vulnerable neighbors. Logan Fountain’s unique financing embodies the innovative thinking we need more of to make a dent in our housing crisis. I am so thankful to Governor Hochul and NYS Homes and Community Renewal for supporting Logan Fountain and their long-term commitment to building desperately needed housing in Brooklyn.”

    New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse said, “Logan Fountain will bring hundreds of much-needed affordable, supportive, and transitional housing units to Brooklyn. I am particularly grateful that forty-one percent of the units will be family sized units, which will help stem the exodus of primarily Black families from the city. This project will help stabilize those most in need of permanent housing and allow families to put down roots in East New York.”

    Hudson Companies President David Kramer said, “Logan Fountain stands as the largest project of its kind in New York City — a truly groundbreaking achievement that brings much-needed housing and social services to East New York. Today’s ribbon-cutting marks the transformation of a long-vacant site into a vibrant, mixed-use development designed to support and uplift our most vulnerable residents and tackle the city’s housing crisis. We’re deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her support in bringing this development to life and to The Jericho Project and Help USA for their vital role in delivering these essential social services.

    Jericho Project CEO Tori Lyon said, “Jericho Project is honored to provide support to the 105 families residing in Logan Fountain’s supportive housing complex — a critical initiative made possible through strong public and private partnership. Through our integrated service model – which includes mental health care, employment support, family counseling, and housing stabilization – our experienced staff will help ensure these families have the tools and support necessary to thrive.”

    HELP USA President and CEO Dan Lehman said, “HELP New Leaf Family Shelter at Logan Fountain is a powerful example of what’s possible when the City and State work in true partnership with nonprofits and private developers. This shelter stands on the site of HELP 1 — our very first family shelter — which opened in the 1980s and set a national standard for transitional housing. As we celebrate HELP USA’s 40th anniversary and our work serving more than 30,000 people each year, New Leaf reflects all we’ve learned since then — a new model of care, services, and design built to meet the complex needs of today’s families. Logan Fountain is more than a building — it’s a commitment to dignity, stability, and opportunity for families rebuilding their lives.”

    Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda
    Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the Fiscal Year FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and relief from certain state-imposed restrictions to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on state-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing developments statewide and new protections for renters and homeowners. In addition, as part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes. Nearly 60,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

    The FY25 Enacted Budget also strengthened the Pro-Housing Community Program which the Governor launched in 2023. Pro-Housing certification is now a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in discretionary funding. Over 300 communities have currently been certified, including the City of New York.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: USNH Sigonella and USNMRTU Bahrain Honor Nurses with Blessing of the Hands Ceremonies

    Source: United States Navy (Medical)

    SIGONELLA, Italy – On May 6, 2025, United States Naval Hospital (USNH) Sigonella and U.S. Naval Medical Readiness and Training Unit (USNMRTU) Bahrain marked the beginning of Nurses Week with solemn Blessing of the Hands ceremonies—a cherished tradition that recognizes the sacred role of nurses and corpsmen in healing and compassionate care.

    The ceremonies, led by Navy chaplains at each location, served as a spiritual and symbolic gesture to affirm the healing mission at the heart of military medicine. At USNH Sigonella, Lieutenant Pedro Fernandez Soto guided staff through the ritual, while in Bahrain, Lieutenant Commander James Hardy facilitated the event for deployed and stationed personnel.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Guelph General Hospital receives $300,000 from Alectra to assist in establishing a new women’s health diagnostic imaging centre

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alectra Inc. is proud to announce a $300,000 contribution over five years to help establish a new community-based medical centre including a diagnostic imaging centre at Guelph General Hospital (GGH). This initiative marks a significant step forward in enhancing access to critical women’s health services for residents of Guelph and Wellington County.

    This new centre, focused on preventative screening, diagnostics and intervention, will serve as a hub for women’s health imaging including breast and bone density imaging. The funding from Alectra will support the purchase of a second mammography machine, significantly expanding capacity for breast cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment support. By locating the facility in a community-based setting, with accessible parking and transit, the medical centre will help eliminate common barriers that prevent women from accessing life-saving screening services.

    “As part of our ongoing commitment to the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve, Alectra is proud to continue its support for Guelph General Hospital with this transformative project,” said Brian Bentz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alectra Inc. “This new community-based diagnostic imaging centre will significantly enhance access to preventative care, ensuring more women in the region benefit from early detection services that are crucial for saving lives.”

    As one of only three Breast Assessment Centres in the region, GGH’s new facility will help ease pressure on neighbouring hospitals and address the growing demand for services, especially now that Ontario has lowered the breast cancer screening age to 40. The innovative centre will provide a full continuum of care, guiding patients from screening to biopsy to surgery, and will serve individuals across Guelph and surrounding communities.

    Julie Byczynski, Foundation CEO, spoke to the significance of this support. “This exciting new GGH medical centre is a huge leap forward for access to imaging services for our community, and requires significant start-up funding to support the purchase and installation of the new equipment. Therefore, having this generous commitment from Alectra underscores the vital role that corporate partners can play in helping build stronger, healthier communities.” Byczynski continued, “in this initial phase of the centre, the additional mammogram capacity of Guelph General is a huge win for women’s health locally. Increasing access and early screening will save lives.”

    Through its AlectraCARES Community Support Program, Alectra has been supporting the GGH Foundation since 2021, including a previous contribution to the Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD). In 2022, Alectra furthered its commitment with a $180,000 donation to help reduce medical waste by funding the purchase of a new sterilization container system designed to minimize the waste generated from operating room surgeries.

    Guelph General Hospital announced in December 2024 that the medical centre would be located at the Speedvale Campus of Conestoga College in Guelph. With a fundraising goal of approximately $10 million, bringing this transformative vision to life will rely on the generosity of donors and strong community partnerships.

    About Alectra Inc.

    Serving more than one million homes and businesses in Ontario’s Greater Golden Horseshoe area, Alectra Utilities is now the largest municipally-owned electric utility in Canada, based on the total number of customers served. We contribute to the economic growth and vibrancy of the 17 communities we serve by investing in essential energy infrastructure, delivering a safe and reliable supply of electricity, and providing innovative energy solutions.

    X: https://x.com/alectranews

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alectranews/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alectranews/?hl=en

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/16178435/admin/

    Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alectranews.bsky.social

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/alectranews

    Media Contact

    Ashley Trgachef, Media Spokesperson
    ashley.trgachef@alectrautilities.com | Telephone: 416.402.5469 | 24/7 Media Line: 1.833.MEDIA-LN

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3566edac-4318-414f-96f4-f61a641f75eb

    The MIL Network –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: NEWS: Sanders Releases Report Documenting Trump’s War on Science

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders
    WASHINGTON, May 13 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today released a new report uncovering the far-reaching scope of Trump’s attacks on science and their impact on public health.
    “Since January, Trump has launched an unprecedented, illegal and outrageous attack on science and scientists. Trump is not only denying scientific truth but actively seeking to undermine it,” said Sanders. “That is beyond unacceptable.  This is a war we cannot allow Trump to win. Far too many lives are at stake.”
    The report finds that Trump officials effectively cut $2.7 billion in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in the first three months of 2025 – including a 31 percent cut to cancer research through March, compared to the same timeframe last year.
    “Trump’s war on science is an attack against anyone who has ever loved someone with cancer,” said Sanders. “The American people do not want us to slash cancer research in order to give more tax breaks for billionaires.”
    The report draws on HELP Committee Minority Staff’s interviews with dozens of federal scientists, workers, and experts to explain how Trump officials are suppressing what scientists can say, controlling how scientists work together, and erasing scientific data. Among those interviewed:
    One doctor said, “purging public health agency websites of data” would leave health care workers “without vetted guidance on how to treat patients.”
    Staff at the NIH Clinical Center explained how clinical care had been abruptly interrupted, and said, “Initially, we had whole labs full of people that were fired. Complete chaos. Nobody had any idea if their tests were being run. This administration has a lot of blood on their hands. We’re not political people. We just want to take care of people.”
    One former HHS official said, “I chose to go into federal service because I care about people. I want to be able to answer to the taxpayer, not the shareholder.”
    Multiple officials confirmed that scientific communication with the World Health Organization has been severely restricted.
    Trump’s arbitrary firings of HHS workers are already threatening the health and well-being of tens of millions of seniors, children, and working families.  For example, HHS has fired:
    A division at FDA that helped millions of Americans get faster access to low-cost generic prescription drugs;
    A team at CDC that supported states responding to environmental health threats like pollution, wildfires, and lead in drinking water; and
    Critical staff in NIH’s clinical cell-therapy program, delaying treatment for patients with advanced cancer. One Stage IV cancer patient said, “The reality is that by reducing money and staff, the NIH will not be able to produce my treatment and it might cost me my life. That does not sound like an administration that cares about its people.”
    The report documents how Trump officials have undermined the important role that vaccines play in preventing disease during the single largest measles outbreak in over 25 years –  with 1,001 cases reported, 126 hospitalizations, and 3 deaths.
    Trump officials have also lied about the consequences of their actions. Elon Musk says “no one” has died from the foreign aid freeze. But researchers estimate nearly 200,000 people have already died, and a global vaccine program estimates 1.2 million children – equivalent to 60,000 classrooms of kids – will die because of cuts that will save taxpayers 0.005 percent of the federal budget.
    “Let’s be clear. Trump’s war on science is not making America healthy again. It is making Americans and people throughout the world sicker,” said Sanders. “This must end. Congress, the scientific community, and the American people must stand up and fight back.”
    Read the report here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: State Health and Environmental Officials Offer Spring Health Reminders

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    With warmer weather now here, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are reminding people to take precautions to prevent tick bites, mosquito bites, and animal bites when outdoors.

    “Enjoying nature and being physically active outside are some of the best things you can do for your health,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin, MD. “While you are doing that, you can take some simple steps to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy and safe.”

    “We all love spending time outdoors and making the most of everything Rhode Island has to offer during the summer,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Whether you’re hiking at Lincoln Woods or relaxing on one of our world-renowned beaches, it’s essential to follow our tick and mosquito prevention guidelines to stay safe and healthy.”

    Tick and mosquito bite prevention

    Repel Prevent tick bites by:

    –Using repellents that contain 20 to 30% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on exposed skin and clothing for protection that lasts up to several hours. This will repel both ticks and mosquitoes. Always follow product instructions. Parents can apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth. DEET containing insect repellants are not recommended for use on infants under 2 months old. You can also find other EPA-approved insect repellents at https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you. –Avoiding wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaves to avoid tick bites. If you are going to be in a wooded area, walk in the center of the trail to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaves at the edges of the trail. You can also spray your clothes and shoes with permethrin to keep ticks away. Make sure to not spray this on your skin. –Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outside. –Tucking your pants into your socks so ticks do not crawl under your clothes. –Wearing light-colored clothing so you can see ticks more easily.

    Check Check yourself, your children, and pets, for ticks by:

    –Taking a shower as soon as you come inside if you have been in grassy or wooded areas. –Doing a full-body tick check using a mirror; parents should check their kids for ticks and pay special attention to the area in and around the ears, in the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and in their hair. –Checking your pets for ticks as well because they can bring ticks into the home.

    Remove Remove ticks from your body, as well as from children and pets, if you find them.

    –Use a set of tweezers to remove the tick. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up. –If you don’t have tweezers or a tick removal spoon, use your fingers with a tissue or rubber gloves.

    Most people who get Lyme disease get a rash anywhere on their body, though it may not appear right away. At first, the rash looks like a red circle, but as the circle gets bigger, the middle changes color and seems to clear, so the rash looks like a target bull’s-eye.

    Some people don’t get a rash but feel sick, with headaches, fever, body aches, and fatigue. Over time, they could have swelling and pain in their joints and a stiff, sore neck; or they could develop shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet, or facial drooping from nerve palsy. Some people may experience heart problems. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics.

    Learn more about tickborne diseases at https://health.ri.gov/ticks.

    Animal bites and rabies prevention

    Rabies is a serious, fatal disease that is most often transmitted to humans through a bite or scratch from an infected animal. People can be exposed to the rabies virus when the saliva or central nervous system tissue of an infected animal comes into contact with an open wound or a mucous membrane, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth. A less common way to be exposed to rabies is for a pet owner to touch saliva from a high-risk animal which has been deposited in a wound or the muzzle of the pet, resulting from an encounter between the pet and a wild animal.

    Prevention

    –Make sure your dog or cat is vaccinated against rabies. –Avoid contact with wildlife and stray animals. –Wear gloves to tend to pets with wounds of unknown origin, or immediately after encounters have occurred between the pet and either stray animals or wildlife. –Make sure garbage is contained in a trash can with a secure lid to prevent attracting animals. –Take steps to keep bats out of your home (info here https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/prevention/bats.html)

    If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, or you wake up to a bat in your house:

    –Wash all wounds and the area around the wound thoroughly with soap and water. (Washing for 5-10 minutes can destroy as much as 90% of the rabies virus.) –Contact your doctor or hospital emergency department. –Call RIDOH at 401-222-2577 and contact the animal control officer at your police department to report the incident. Provide the authorities with an accurate description of the animal (including distinctive markings, not just color and breed). –Capture and isolate the animal if possible, but do not risk further injury to yourself or a pet if the animal is dangerous. For a bat, do not touch the bat, but try to secure it in a clear container with a lid. Keep children away from all animals involved.

    If your pet is bitten or scratched by another animal:

    –Try to find out what type of animal bit or scratched your pet. Do not touch the attacking animal. –Wear rubber gloves and a hose to wash your pet’s wounds. Do not touch your pet with bare hands. There may be saliva from the rabid animal still on your pet. –Call your pet’s veterinarian immediately, even if the wound is superficial. –Call the animal control officer at your police department and RIDOH at 401-222-2577.

    Learn more about rabies and animal bites at https://health.ri.gov/rabies.

    Data This year, RIDOH has launched a new animal bites data dashboard. The dashboard includes information on reported animal bites in Rhode Island by year, counts for the administration of rabies vaccine by year, and the types of animals involved in biting incidents, among other data. The data can also be viewed by county, city, and town. Around 2,500 animal bites are reported in Rhode Island annually. The animals involved include dogs, cats, bats, rodents, and raccoons.

    The launch of this animal bites dashboard comes a year after RIDOH developed an interactive dashboard with data on several tickborne diseases, including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis, broken down by demographics and geography. The dashboard makes data available by case counts and case rates by year, sex, county, city, and town.

    In 2023, Rhode Island had 2,852 cases of Lyme disease, with Washington County continuing to have the highest rate of Lyme disease in the state. Anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, and babesiosis are among the other tickborne diseases found in Rhode Island.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: HHS, FDA Initiate Comprehensive Review of Nutrients in Infant Formula

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    May 13, 2025

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the next steps in Operation Stork Speed–a groundbreaking initiative to ensure the safety, reliability, and nutritional adequacy of infant formula for American families. The FDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) to begin the nutrient review process required by law for infant formula. Currently, infant formula must meet minimum and maximum levels of certain nutrients. While the FDA regularly reviews individual nutrient requirements for infant formula, this will be the first comprehensive review since 1998.
    “Operation Stork Speed brings radical transparency to ingredients in infant formula and puts science front and center,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Every child has a fundamental right to a healthy start. We’re giving parents the truth and the tools to make that happen. You can’t Make America Healthy Again if we don’t fix what nourishes our youngest and most vulnerable Americans.”
    Through the RFI, the FDA is seeking public input to help determine whether existing nutrient requirements should be revised based on the latest scientific data, including international. The agency also welcomes data on potential adjustments to existing minimum or maximum levels, recommendations for additional nutrients to consider, and how such changes may improve health outcomes.  
    Commenters will have 90 days to submit responses. Further information on how to submit a comment can be found here, links to an external website.
    The FDA, under HHS leadership, launched Operation Stork Speed in March 2025, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to infant formula safety and nutritional quality. In addition to today’s RFI, the FDA is increasing testing for heavy metals and other contaminants in infant formula and other food consumed by children. The agency is also encouraging companies to work with the FDA on enhancing transparency and improving labeling clarity.
    “Protecting our most vulnerable is not just a moral duty—it is our responsibility,” said FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “For many children, infant formula is their only source of nutrition. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to continually assess the nutrition standards and incorporate gold standard science to ensure we are providing the safest, most effective nutrition possible.”
    As part of the initiative, the FDA will convene a publicly accessible expert panel in June.
    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Inquiries

    Consumer:
    888-INFO-FDA

    Content current as of:
    05/13/2025

    Regulated Product(s)

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USNH Sigonella and USNMRTU Bahrain Honor Nurses with Blessing of the Hands Ceremonies

    Source: United States Navy

    SIGONELLA, Italy – On May 6, 2025, United States Naval Hospital (USNH) Sigonella and U.S. Naval Medical Readiness and Training Unit (USNMRTU) Bahrain marked the beginning of Nurses Week with solemn Blessing of the Hands ceremonies—a cherished tradition that recognizes the sacred role of nurses and corpsmen in healing and compassionate care.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa is Empowering First Responders Through Simulation: Launch of a One-Day Facilitator Course on Pre-Hospital and Enroute Care

    Source: United States Navy

    OKINAWA, Japan — On 29 April, U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa (USNHO) Camp Foster, Japan. Staff from USNHO held a one-day facilitator course. Cdr. Amy Aparicio brought together a team of subject matter experts (SME), including Capt. Michelle Sangiorgi and Amanda Studer from the Emergency Department. Cdr. Frank Riojas from Staff Education and Training (SEAT) helped provide training aids and equipment. Lt. Zach Juniper provided real-world practical instruction to the students.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving cardiology nursing

    Source: Scottish Government

    New skills to benefit patients and clinical staff.

    Cardiology nurses are to be supported to develop advanced skills to enable them to treat a wider range of patients and heart conditions.

    The National Specialist Nursing In Cardiology Framework will set out how nurses can develop advanced skills and expertise through university-level qualifications and clinical experience. This will support their practice at advanced level, including interpreting diagnostic tests and prescribing medications, leading teams and mentoring colleagues.

    Nursing professionals and cardiology services will be better able to align with the needs of the people they are caring for.

    Public Health Minister Jenni Minto visited Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert to launch the framework and said:

    “Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of serious ill health and death, and nurses across the country make enormous efforts to ensure the best care for patients.

    “As a government we want to support the NHS workforce and ensure they can continue to develop new skills that benefit patients. This innovative framework will help cardiology nurses obtain advanced skills to ensure more timely diagnoses, improved management of conditions and better access to care.

    “I hope that cardiology nurses across Scotland will find this to be a useful framework and that it helps them to develop their careers and meet the increasing amount of cardiovascular demand that we are seeing across the system.”

    The framework is a collaboration between the Scottish Government, nursing representatives from all NHS health boards, and NHS Education for Scotland.

    Senior Cardiology Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist and National Heart Disease Coordinator for the Scottish Government Leeanne Macklin said:

    “The framework not only aims to enhance patient care but also offers a structured pathway for career progression in specialty cardiology nursing. By creating clear routes to advanced practice roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist and Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist, the framework supports the ongoing professional development of nurses within cardiology across Scotland.

    “This initiative is also designed to improve retention and job satisfaction by providing nurses with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive in their careers.”

    Associate Director for Nursing, Policy and Professional Practice at RCN Scotland Eileen McKenna said:

    “Advanced practice roles recognise the safety critical role that nursing plays and provide an opportunity for nurses to develop and have their clinical skills and expertise recognised. The Specialist Nursing in Cardiology Framework is a welcome route for learning and career progression for existing and future cardiology nurses.”

    The Chief Medical Officer’s Specialty Advisor for Cardiology Dr Ross McGeoch said:

    “Clinical Nurse Specialists are integral to the delivery of timely, safe, and effective cardiology care in Scotland. The Specialist Nursing in Cardiology Framework further strengthens these roles for the benefit of both practitioners and our patients.” 

    Background

    https://nmahpdevelopmentframework.nes.scot.nhs.uk/supporting-frameworks/specialist-practice-frameworks/cardiology/specialist-nursing-in-cardiology-framework/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster Council launches scheme to cut cooking emissions in restaurants to improve air quality | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster City Council has launched a new pilot scheme aimed at tackling harmful air pollution caused by cooking emissions in restaurants.  

    Commercial cooking is the third-largest single source of Particulate Matter (also known as PM2.5 emissions) in London, which is estimated to account for 59% of total emissions. These emissions originate from cooking fuels such as charcoal, wood and gas, as well as food preparation methods like frying and grilling.  

    PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that are small enough to travel deep inside the lungs, heart and brain. Long-term exposure has been linked to serious health conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and even cognitive decline. 

    To address this, Westminster City Council is trialling a new air purification system in five local restaurants to assess its effectiveness in reducing PM2.5 emissions and improving indoor and outdoor air quality. The trial will also provide valuable data on how restaurant emissions contribute to pollution across the city, which will be shared with the businesses.  

    Mayfair restaurant, Apricity, is one of four restaurants in Westminster piloting this new technology to improve the air quality for its staff and diners.  

    Eve Seemann, head chef at Apricity restaurant in Mayfair, said:  

    “It’s important research in terms of health for myself and the staff, as well as anyone visiting Mayfair and central London.   

    “Although our style of cooking may not be as polluting as others, it’s important to see what areas we could improve in. This data will allow us to see when there’s a peak, what caused that peak and what we can do to try and remedy it. I’m glad we are part of finding a solution to reduce air pollution.”  

    Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said: 

    “These emissions from commercial cooking present a significant air quality and public health challenge in Westminster. What we learn from this pilot could help us shape future policies and ensure cleaner air for all those who live, work and visit the city. 

    “We want this pilot to raise awareness of air quality issues within the industry, and I hope it encourages other businesses to sign up to participate in the trial. I’m proud that we’re leading the way testing innovative solutions to make sure our communities can live in a greener, more sustainable Fairer Environment.” 

    Dr Philip Webb, Chief Executive Officer at Health and Wellbeing 360 Ltd, said: 

    “Not only will monitoring indoor environmental quality and outdoor air quality provide important data on pollutants and toxins in a real world setting such as kitchens in local restaurants based in community settings, it will give us insights into the health and wellbeing impacts of these types of emissions indoors and outdoors and, importantly, we will be able to assess the effectiveness of interventions such as ventilation, filtration and purification. 

    “It also demonstrates Westminster Council leading the way on innovation in this sector and highlights the role of appropriate technology in identifying risks and mitigation strategies to help protect the health and wellbeing of local communities now and for future generations.” 

    Businesses can still be a part of the scheme and can sign up to the council’s commercial cooking pilot.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Neag School Honors Faculty and Staff With 2025 Annual Awards

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The Neag School of Education honored several faculty and staff on May 2 with its annual awards recognizing research, teaching, and service. In March, the Neag School’s Dean’s Office solicited nominations from current students, faculty, and staff and presented the awards at the end-of-year School Meeting. The 2025 award recipients are:

    Dean Jason Irizarry presents the 2025 Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award to Adam McCready during the May 2 Neag School meeting. (Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

    Dr. Perry A. Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award – Adam McCready

    The Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award is awarded annually to a full-time faculty member in the Neag School. Alumnus Perry A. Zirkel ’68 MA, ’72 Ph.D., ’76 JD is a university professor emeritus of education and law at Lehigh University, where he formerly was dean of the College of Education and more recently held the Iacocca Chair in Education. The 2025 award recipient is Adam McCready, an assistant professor-in-residence in the Department of Educational Leadership since 2019.

    McCready is a faculty member for the Neag School’s Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) Master of Arts program. His research critically examines the college student experience to identify and challenge oppressive educational structures. He has studied students’ experiences in historically white college social fraternities; college men and masculinities; and the relationship between social media use and students’ attitudes, behaviors, and experiences. His research has been published in Psychology of Men & Masculinities, Research in Higher Education, Innovative Higher Education, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, and the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice. McCready serves as the editor for the Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice, and previously served as the vice chair for scholarship and research for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Coalition on Men and Masculinities.

    McCready exemplifies excellence in teaching through his unwavering commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the classroom. Since joining the HESA program, McCready has taught diverse core courses, skillfully blending rich scholarship with professional experience. A reflective educator, he thoughtfully incorporates material centering minoritized students and engages in critical conversations about race, gender, sexuality, and disability to better prepare future higher education leaders.

    In Spring 2022, McCready introduced an innovative “ungrading” philosophy, focusing on feedback and reflection rather than numerical scores. This humanizing approach has strengthened student learning while influencing fellow faculty members to rethink their evaluation methods. Known for his flexibility, McCready proactively seeks student feedback and adjusts his courses to meet learners’ evolving needs.

    His thoughtful course preparation, creativity, and deep investment in student success have earned him high student evaluation scores and recognition from UConn and the Neag School’s administration. Students and colleagues alike commend his relational, scholar-practitioner model of teaching.

    Sandra Chafouleas is the recipient of the 2025 Neag School Distinguished Researcher Award. (Neag School photo)

    Distinguished Researcher Award – Sandra Chafouleas

    This award is given to a full professor in the Neag School who, over at least the last 10-year period (at least five consecutive completed years at UConn), has made significant research contributions to their field of study. This year’s recipient is Sandra Chafouleas, a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology.

    Chafouleas is also the Neag Endowed Professor and the founder and co-director of the UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH). Chafouleas focuses on supporting school system implementation of evidence-informed practices and is known for her expertise in areas of integrated health and learning (whole child), school mental health, and social, emotional, and behavioral assessment and intervention.

    As a principal investigator and co-principal investigator, Chafouleas has secured over $20 million to support research, service, and training activities through the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and private foundations. Chafouleas has successfully built and led multidisciplinary and multisite teams in tackling issues in the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children across pre-K-12 settings. She currently serves as multiple principal investigator on an NIH-funded U24 Network to advance the science of emotional well-being, leading the measurement, training, and mentorship of emerging scholars. Many individuals, including junior faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and students, have benefited from her research team’s leadership as collaborators on research publications, presentations, and grants.

    Chafouleas is also the co-creator of the award-winning Feel Your Best Self program, a free and fun toolkit that teaches 12 simple coping strategies to promote emotion regulation. The program has won numerous awards, including one Gold and three Silver Telly awards. She has authored over 200 publications, which have been cited more than 11,000 times, and regularly serves as a national presenter and invited speaker.

    She is a fellow in the American Psychological Association and the Association for Psychological Science. She has received multiple recognitions, including a 2022 Presidential Citation from the American Psychological Association and selection as the 2023 Reed Fellow at UConn Waterbury. Chafouleas previously served as associate dean for The Graduate School (2012-2014) and the associate dean for research at the Neag School (2014-2016). Prior to becoming a university trainer, she worked as a school psychologist and school administrator in a variety of settings supporting the needs of children with behavior disorders.

    Dean Jason Irizarry presents the 2025 Neag School Early-Career Scholar Award to Zachary Collier during the May 2 Neag School meeting. (Shawn Kornegay/Neag School)

    Outstanding Early-Career Scholar Award – Zachary Collier

    This award is given to a pre-tenured faculty member in the Neag School who has completed at least two consecutive years at UConn. The 2025 recipient is Zachary Collier, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology.

    Collier is a leading scholar in educational statistics, causal data mining, and artificial intelligence applications in missing data analysis. His work addresses critical methodological challenges in education, public health, and special education, with research published in top-tier journals such as Structural Equation Modeling, Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, and Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness.

    Collier has received significant external funding from major agencies, including a $3.1 million NIH grant, a $2.9 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, and awards from the Spencer and James S. McDonnell foundations. In 2025, he was named an Emerging Scholar by Diverse Issues in Higher Education and was a featured mathematician by the Network for Minorities in Mathematical Sciences. That same year, he was appointed as grant reviewer for the IES.

    Beyond his research, Collier is a dedicated educator and mentor known for fostering inclusive, collaborative learning environments. He teaches foundational and advanced courses in statistics and data science and actively supports graduate student development through co-authored research. A staunch advocate for equity in quantitative research, he contributes to initiatives like the InclusiMetrics Conference and is recognized for advancing justice-oriented approaches through QuantCrit and data sensitivity methods.

    Valerie J. Pichette Outstanding Staff Award – Diane Herlihy and Christine North

    Dean Jason Irizarry presents Diane Herlihy with the 2025 Valerie J. Pichette Outstanding Staff Award.

    Named in honor of the late Valerie J. Pichette, this award recognizes an individual or individuals who have gone above and beyond in their work at the Neag School over the past academic year. Pichette had a 30-year history of service to the state of Connecticut, including having served as executive assistant to the Neag School dean for nearly two decades. This year’s recipients are Diane Herlihy and Christine North.

    Herlihy, who joined the Neag School in 2019, is the true definition of a team player. She collaborates with faculty, students, and staff to support others within the Neag School and always brings a positive attitude. As a volunteer and an active member of the Community Building Committee, she has been instrumental in the planning and execution of many events throughout the year, including Undergraduate Commencement.

    She has taken on the responsibilities of other positions multiple times to fill in for colleagues without hesitation and still ensured her work was not affected. Herlihy is always attentive to staff and student needs and is one of the first people willing to help; she seeks out answers to problems and does it all with a caring and determined attitude.

    Dean Jason Irizarry presents Christine North with the 2025 Valerie J. Pichette Outstanding Staff Award.

    North, the sole administrative staff person for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, constantly juggles requests from faculty, students, staff, Neag School administrators, and external stakeholders who call with questions, seek advice, and need help solving problems. She is a stable and calming presence and an essential ingredient in how the department’s business and mission are met.

    Since joining the Neag School in 1996, North has been an important member of the School community, helping others solve problems and raising questions and alternative strategies when relevant. She exhibits institutional loyalty, impressive professionalism, initiative, integrity, a willingness to help with everything and anything, and deeply cares for the culture of the Neag School.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: Tech, Tactics, and Trauma: Cutting-Edge Medicine on Display at CAPEX 2025

    Source: United States Navy

    FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Drones buzzed overhead, special operators stalked through the shoot houses, and medics monitored vital signs of patients in the field. This wasn’t some disconnected tech demo or surgical exercise; this was integrated, visceral, and real. At the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s capabilities exercise (CAPEX 2025), March 31-April 6, 2025, the convergence of cutting-edge technology, tactics, and battlefield medicine took center stage, showcasing how the Army is redefining irregular warfare and how, strangely, Navy Medicine is a part of that plan.

    MIL Security OSI –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: HHS, FDA Issue RFI on Deregulatory Plan to Lower Costs and Empower Providers

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    May 13, 2025

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the launch of a public Request for Information (RFI) to identify and eliminate outdated or unnecessary regulations. The initiative is part of a broader federal effort to reduce regulatory burdens and increase transparency, in alignment with President Trump’s Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.”
    Under the directive, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has committed the Department to a “10-to-1” deregulatory policy: for every new regulation proposed, at least ten existing regulatory actions will be rescinded. The effort is designed to lower the cost of living, remove bureaucratic barriers, and allow health care providers to devote more time and resources to patient care.
    “To Make America Healthy Again, we must free our doctors and caregivers to do what they do best—prevent and treat chronic disease,” said Secretary Kennedy.  “We cannot allow their time and talent to be wasted on bureaucratic red tape and paperwork.”
    Under the Executive Order, HHS will implement the following measures:

    The 10-to-1 rule: For every new regulation introduced, at least ten existing regulations must be eliminated.
    Regulatory cost cap: The total cost of all new regulations in fiscal year 2025 must be significantly less than zero.
    Expanded scope: The order applies not only to formal regulations but also to guidance documents, memoranda, policy statements, and similar directives.
    Radical transparency: HHS will publish annual reports detailing estimated regulatory costs and the specific rules being offset, promoting greater transparency and accountability.

    “This initiative is about restoring common sense to health care regulation,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “By cutting outdated red tape, we can lower costs, increase access to innovation, and let clinicians spend more time with patients—not paperwork. We welcome public input to help identify reforms that truly make a difference.”
    The 60-day public comment period opens today. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their ideas for deregulatory actions through the Regulations.gov docket (AHRQ-2025-0001) or the newly launched online portal at Regulations.gov/Deregulation. The portal includes tools to assist users in drafting proposals that HHS may formally consider.
    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    Inquiries

    Consumer:
    888-INFO-FDA

    Content current as of:
    05/13/2025

    Follow FDA

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: AI can scan vast numbers of social media posts during disasters to guide first responders

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ademola Adesokan, Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Science, Missouri University of Science and Technology

    Rescuers need to know ASAP where they’re needed in disasters. AP Photo/Mike Stewart

    When disasters happen – such as hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes – every second counts. Emergency teams need to find people fast, send help and stay organized. In today’s world, one of the fastest ways to get information is through social media.

    In recent years, researchers have explored how artificial intelligence can use social media to help during emergencies. These programs can scan millions of posts on sites such as X, Facebook and Instagram. However, most existing systems look for simple patterns like keywords or images of damage.

    In my research as an AI scientist, I’ve developed new models that go further. They can understand the meaning and context of posts – what researchers call semantics. This helps improve how accurately the system identifies people in need and classifies situational awareness information during emergencies. The results show that these tools can give rescue teams a clearer view of what’s happening on the ground and where help is needed most.

    From posts to lifesaving insights

    People share billions of posts on social media every day. During disasters, they often share photos, videos, short messages and even their location. This creates a huge network of real-time information.

    How social media can help when a disaster strikes, by the European Commission.

    But with so many posts, it’s hard for people to find what’s important quickly. That’s where artificial intelligence helps. These systems, which use machine learning, can scan thousands of posts every second, find urgent messages, spot damage shown in pictures, and tell real information from rumors.

    During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, people sent over 20 million tweets over six days. If AI tools had been used then, they could have helped find people in danger even faster.

    Training AIs

    Researchers begin by teaching AI programs to understand emergencies. In one study I conducted, I looked at thousands of social media posts from disasters. I sorted them into groups like people asking for help, damaged buildings and general comments. Then, I used these examples to train the program to sort new posts by itself.

    One big step forward was teaching the program to look at pictures and words together. For example, a photo of flooded streets and a message like “we’re trapped” are stronger signals than either one alone. Using both, the system became much better at showing where people needed help and how serious the damage was.

    Finding information is just the first step. The main goal is to help emergency teams act quickly and save lives.

    I’m working with emergency response teams in the United States to add this technology to their systems. When a disaster hits, my program can show where help is needed by using social media posts. It can also classify this information by urgency, helping rescue teams use their resources where they are needed most.

    For example, during a flood, my system can quickly spot where people are asking for help and rank these areas by urgency. This helps rescue teams act faster and send aid where it’s needed most, even before official reports come in.

    AI scans of social media could help guide first responders to where they’re most urgently needed.
    Jon Cherry/Getty Images

    Addressing the challenges

    Using social media to help during disasters sounds great, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes, people post things that aren’t true. Other times, the same message gets posted many times or doesn’t clearly state where the problem is. This mix can make it hard for the system to know what’s real.

    To fix this, I’m working on ways to check a post’s credibility. I look at who posted it, what words they used and whether other posts say the same thing.

    I also take privacy seriously. I only use posts that anyone can see and never show names or personal details. Instead, I look at the big picture to find patterns.

    The future of disaster intelligence

    As AI systems improve, they are likely to be even more helpful during disasters. New tools can understand messages more clearly and might even help us see where trouble is coming before it starts.

    As extreme weather worsens, authorities need fast ways to get good information. When used correctly, social media can show people where help is needed most. It can help save lives and get supplies to the right places faster.

    In the future, I believe this will become a regular part of emergency work around the world. My research is still growing, but one thing is clear: Disaster response is no longer just about people on the ground – it’s also about AI systems in the cloud.

    Ademola Adesokan receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Kummer Institute for Student Success, Research, and Economic Development at the Missouri University of Science and Technology through the Kummer Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship.

    – ref. AI can scan vast numbers of social media posts during disasters to guide first responders – https://theconversation.com/ai-can-scan-vast-numbers-of-social-media-posts-during-disasters-to-guide-first-responders-255316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI Global: Researchers uncovered hundreds of genes linked to OCD, providing clues about how it changes the brain − new research

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Carol Mathews, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Florida

    No single gene causes OCD, but identifying the genetic markers linked to the condition can help clarify how it develops. Viktoria Ruban/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Obsessive compulsive disorder has many unknowns, including what causes it, why symptoms can differ so much between people, how medication and therapy for it actually work, and why treatment is effective for some people and not for others. In our newly published research, my colleagues and I made a step toward unraveling some of these mysteries by shedding light on the genetics of OCD.

    Obsessive compulsive disorder is one of the most impairing illnesses worldwide. Affecting about 1 in 50 people globally, OCD is among the top 10 causes of years lost to disability, leading to harmful effects on a person’s ability to work and function in the world and on their family.

    Compared with people without OCD, a person with the condition has a 30% higher chance of dying prematurely from natural causes, such as infections or other illnesses, and a 300% higher chance of dying early from nonnatural causes, such as accidents or suicide.

    People with OCD experience obsessions – disturbing, recurrent and unwanted thoughts, fears or mental images – and compulsions, such as repetitive behaviors and rituals performed to ease the anxiety usually caused by obsessions. For example, someone might wash their hands dozens of times or in a specific way to get rid of germs, even if they know it’s excessive or illogical. Avoiding certain places or situations to reduce anxiety or prevent triggering obsessions and compulsions is also common.

    People with OCD have compulsions that interfere with their daily lives to a debilitating degree.
    Jena Ardell/Moment via Getty Images

    While the exact causes of OCD are unclear, researchers know that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. OCD can run in families; studies attribute between 40% to 65% of OCD cases to genetic factors. OCD that begins in childhood has a stronger genetic influence than OCD that begins in adulthood.

    But unlike some genetic diseases caused by a single faulty gene, such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease, OCD is influenced by hundreds to thousands of genes that each play a small part in disease risk.

    My colleagues and I analyzed the DNA of over 53,000 people with OCD and over 2 million people without OCD, the largest study of this kind for this condition. We discovered hundreds of genetic markers potentially linked to OCD – data we hope will ultimately lead to improved ways of identifying people who are at risk for OCD and, down the line, to better treatments.

    How scientists study OCD genetics

    To find the genes involved in OCD risk, researchers use a method called a genome-wide association study, or GWAS. These studies compare the DNA of tens to hundreds of thousands of people with a disease of interest with the DNA of people without the disease, looking for tiny differences in the genetic material. These genetic markers may be linked to OCD or indicate the presence of other genes linked to the disease.

    In a GWAS, scientists carefully test each of the millions of genetic markers across the genome to identify those found more often in people with OCD than in people without OCD. They then determine which genes those markers are associated with, where in the body they are active and how they might contribute to the condition.

    GWAS studies look for genetic associations between different traits.

    We identified 30 areas in the genome linked to OCD, containing 249 genes of interest in total. Of those, 25 genes stood out as likely contributors to the development of OCD.

    The top three genes we found are also linked to other brain disorders such as depression, epilepsy and schizophrenia. Several other genes of interest for OCD were found in a region of the genome that plays a role in adaptive immunity and has been associated with other psychiatric disorders.

    Importantly, no single gene can predict or cause OCD on its own. Previous genetic studies have demonstrated that genes across all of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in people may contribute to OCD risk.

    Genetic insights into OCD

    Because the contribution of each genetic marker or gene to disease susceptibility is very small, GWAS are not useful for identifying genes that cause OCD for a given person. Rather, this kind of research helps scientists understand how the brain works in people with OCD and whether OCD shares genetic roots with conditions that commonly occur alongside it.

    For example, the genetic markers we found to be associated with OCD were highly active in several brain regions known to play a role in development of the condition. These brain areas are collectively involved in planning, decision-making, motivation, error detection, emotion regulation, and fear and anxiety, all of which can malfunction in OCD.

    We also found associations with a brain region called the hypothalamus, which converts emotions such as fear, anger, anxiety or excitement into physical responses. The hypothalamus has not been directly linked to OCD before, but it is part of a network of brain regions that may contribute to its symptoms.

    Additionally, we found that certain types of brain cells – particularly medium spiny neurons in a brain region called the striatum – were strongly linked to the OCD genes we identified. Medium spiny neurons play an important role in habit formation, the process by which a behavior becomes automatic and habitual – think compulsions. Specific receptors on medium spiny neurons are common targets for medications that are sometimes used to help treat OCD.

    Many people with OCD also suffer from anxiety.
    triocean/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    The results of our study can help researchers better understand the relationships between OCD and other conditions. We found genetic links between OCD and several other psychiatric disorders, especially anxiety, depression, anorexia and Tourette syndrome. People with OCD also showed lower genetic risk for conditions such as alcohol dependence and risk-taking behavior, aligning with what doctors see in clinics: Many people with OCD tend to be cautious and avoid risks.

    Surprisingly, we also found genetic overlaps between OCD immune-related conditions. While having OCD appears to be linked to an increased risk of asthma and migraines, it may also be linked to a reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease. These findings may lead to new insights about the role the immune system and inflammation play in brain health.

    More effective OCD treatment

    OCD is a complex disorder that can look very different from person to person. Understanding the genetic and biological factors behind OCD helps researchers move closer to better diagnosis, treatment and possibly even prevention.

    As a practicing psychiatrist and researcher, I have spent my career working to understand the causes of OCD and to improve the lives of those who live with the condition. With larger studies and continued research, my team and I hope to better match specific biological patterns to individual symptoms.

    In time, this could lead to more personalized and effective treatments – improving the lives of millions of people living with OCD around the world.

    Carol Mathews receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. She is a member of the scientific advisory boards for the Family Foundation for OCD Research and the International OCD Foundation, and acts as a consultant for the Office of Mental Health for the State of New York.

    – ref. Researchers uncovered hundreds of genes linked to OCD, providing clues about how it changes the brain − new research – https://theconversation.com/researchers-uncovered-hundreds-of-genes-linked-to-ocd-providing-clues-about-how-it-changes-the-brain-new-research-255572

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 13 May 2025 Departmental update WHO publishes surgical sub-group membership for caesarean section recommendations

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Caesarean sections are the most frequent major abdominal surgery performed in the world today. The worldwide proportion of women who give birth by caesarean section has steadily increased from 6% in 1990 to 21% in 2018 and is estimated to reach 30% in 2030.  Projections indicate that 38 million women will give birth by caesarean section in 2030, and 88% of these operations will occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

    A caesarean section is a complex operation that requires a series of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative steps that can be broadly classified into surgical, medical and anaesthetic interventions. As with any surgery, caesarean sections are associated with short- and long-term risks which can extend many years beyond the current delivery and affect the health of the woman, her child and future pregnancies. These risks are higher in women with limited access to comprehensive obstetric care. 

    To improve the quality of care, safety and efficiency, as well as training and research on caesarean sections, it is important to standardize practices based on the best available evidence. At present, there is no international evidence-based consensus about what precise steps should be used when performing a caesarean section, and wide variations exist in practices within and between surgeons, hospitals and countries.

    In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) will develop recommendations for evidence-based interventions to conduct caesarean sections. The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for WHO Maternal and Perinatal Health (MPH) guidelines prioritized the development of this guideline in May 2024.

    A Guideline Development Group (GDG) meeting of a surgical subgroup will be held from 10 to 12 June 2025 to review and agree on the surgical interventions to be addressed in these forthcoming recommendations. In keeping with the requirements of the WHO Guidelines Review Committee and the WHO Compliance, Risk Management and Ethics Office, we are posting online short biographies of the GDG members. The listed candidates have also submitted a Declaration of Interest form stating any conflict of interests. WHO has applied its internal processes to ensure that the performance of the above tasks by members of this group will be transparent and without any significant conflict of interests (academic, financial or other) that could affect the credibility of the guideline.

    Nevertheless, WHO invites the public to review the experts and stakeholders involved and provide feedback regarding any member deemed to have a significant conflict of interest with respect to the terms of reference for this group. Comments and feedback should be cordial and constructive, and sent to srhmph@who.int.

    This WHO normative meeting is by invitation only.

    NOTE:

    The GDG members are participating in the meeting on their individual capacity. Affiliations are presented only as a reference. The participation of experts in a WHO meeting does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by WHO nor does it create a binding relationship between the experts and WHO. The biographies have been provided by the experts themselves and are the sole responsibility of the inpiduals concerned. WHO is not responsible for the accuracy, veracity and completeness of the information provided. In accordance with WHO conflict of interest assessment policy, expert’s biographies are published for transparency purposes. Comments and perceptions are brought to the knowledge of WHO through the public notice and comment process.   

    Comments sent to WHO are treated confidentially and their receipt will be acknowledged through a generic email notification to the sender. Please send any comments to the following email: srhmph@who.int. WHO reserves the right to discuss information received through this process with the relevant expert with no attribution to the provider of such information. Upon review and assessment of the information received through this process, WHO, in its sole discretion, may take appropriate management of conflicts of interests in accordance with its policies. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: CMS Moves to Shut Down Medicaid Loophole—Protects Vulnerable Americans, Saves Billions

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would close a Medicaid tax loophole exploited by states to inflate federal payments to states, and free up state funds for non-Medicaid purposes.  Some states have exploited these tax loopholes to take money from federal taxpayers and then simultaneously spent “state” money on new benefits for illegal immigrants. This regulatory move is projected to save taxpayers more than $30 billion over five years and continues CMS’ work in ensuring this vital safety net continues to be available for the country’s most vulnerable populations in the future.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: Preserving Medicaid Funding for Vulnerable Populations – Closing a Health Care-Related Tax Loophole Proposed Rule

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    Section 1902(a)(2) of the Social Security Act (the Act) requires states to share the responsibility of financing the Medicaid program with the federal government, by providing at least 40 percent, depending on the state, of reimbursement for expenditures under the state plan. There are several ways states can finance the non-Federal share, including health care-related taxes under section 1903(w) of the Act. States have historically looked for ways to shift this responsibility more toward the federal government, and both Congress and CMS have sought to address these cases.[1]

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI USA: CMS Releases Draft Guidance for the Third Cycle of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program to Lower Drug Prices for American Patients

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services

    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing draft guidance for public comment on the third cycle of negotiations under the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (Negotiation Program). The draft guidance includes policies that will improve the transparency of the Negotiation Program, prioritize the selection of prescription drugs with high costs to the Medicare program, and minimize any negative impacts of the negotiated maximum fair price (MFP) on pharmaceutical innovation within the United States.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pension schemes back British growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Pension schemes back British growth

    Mansion House Accord unlocks up to £50 billion investment for the economy, with first commitments to invest in the UK.

    • More ambitious targets than 2023 Mansion House Compact will unlock investment into UK businesses and major infrastructure projects, including clean energy developments. 

    • Comes ahead of Pensions Investment Review final report, which will create megafunds to drive more investment, boost pension pots and grow the economy through the Plan for Change.

    Up to £50 billion of investment for UK businesses and major infrastructure projects is set to be unlocked through a new agreement with Britain’s biggest pension funds, as the Government goes further and faster to drive growth through the Plan for Change.

    Seventeen workplace pension providers managing around 90 percent of active savers’ defined contribution pensions will sign the Mansion House Accord at a roundtable with the Chancellor and Minister for Pensions in the City of London today (Tuesday 13 May). 

    Signatories to the Accord will pledge to invest 10 percent of their workplace portfolios in assets that boost the economy such as infrastructure, property and private equity by 2030. At least 5 percent of these portfolios will be ringfenced for the UK, expected to release £25 billion directly into the UK economy by 2030.  

    This investment could support clean energy developments across the country, delivering greater energy security and helping to lower household bills, as well as delivering growth finance to Britain’s world-leading science and technology businesses – creating jobs, boosting businesses and putting more money into people’s pockets.

    Pension savers will also benefit from the commitment to invest in private markets. Comparable Australian schemes invest significantly more in private markets and domestic companies than UK schemes, and research suggests greater investment in private markets can deliver security through diversified asset holdings and potentially drive higher returns. 

    The pledge follows hot on the heels of securing trade agreements with India and the US, which will add billions of pounds to the UK economy and protect thousands of steel and car manufacturing jobs, as well as a fourth interest rate cut since last Summer. This demonstrates the UK’s strength in navigating a changing world, going further and faster through our Plan for Change to drive growth and put more money into people’s pockets.

    Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:

    Through our Plan for Change, we are choosing to back British businesses and British workers. I welcome this bold step by some of our biggest pension funds, which will unlock billions for major infrastructure, clean energy, and exciting startups — delivering growth, boosting pension pots, and giving working people greater security in retirement.

    Torsten Bell, Minister for Pensions, said:

    Pensions matter hugely, they underpin not just the retirements we all look forward to, but the investment our future prosperity depends on. I hugely welcome the pensions industry decision to invest in more productive assets, from growing companies to infrastructure. This supports better outcomes for savers and faster growth for Britain.

    Today’s announcement is more ambitious than the 2023 Mansion House Compact, where eleven funds committed to the aim of investing 5 percent of their workplace defined contribution default funds – the off-the-shelf funds providers offer to the vast majority of savers – in unlisted companies by 2030. The new commitment involves the vast majority of the industry and brings more assets into scope, doubles the target from 5 percent to 10 percent, and includes a specific commitment to investing 5 percent in the UK. 

    Progress against the commitment will be monitored and the initiative will be reinforced by measures to be announced in the upcoming final report of the Pensions Investment Review. The final report will tackle fragmentation in the UK pension system, creating pension megafunds that take advantage of scale and consolidation like Australian and Canadian funds do, to invest in productive assets like private markets and big infrastructure projects.  

    Some pension funds have already indicated privately that they will go beyond the targets agreed through the Mansion House Accord, which could lead to even more direct investment in the UK economy – and is particularly welcomed by the government. 

    Today’s commitment comes alongside progress in the government’s efforts to help pension savers benefit from the opportunities of investing in UK growth. The British Business Bank has now received regulatory approval from the Financial Conduct Authority to deliver the British Growth Partnership – which will provide UK pension funds and other institutional investors with access to the Bank’s extensive pipeline of UK venture capital opportunities. 

    The government will continue working with the industry to make sure pension schemes deliver the best possible value for savers — while driving the investment needed to deliver growth and put more money into people’s pockets.

    Yvonne Braun, Director of Policy, Long-Term Savings, Health and Protection at the ABI, said:

    As major investors, the pensions industry already plays a vital role in driving growth in the UK and globally. The Accord formalises the industry’s ambition to invest more in private markets to diversify investments, support innovation and infrastructure, and ensure prosperity.  Investments under the Accord will always be made in savers’ best interests. It is now critical that Government supports the industry’s ambition, by facilitating a pipeline of suitable investment opportunities, tackling barriers to investments, and delivering wider pension reforms effectively.

    Alastair King, Lord Mayor of London, said:

    The Mansion House Accord builds on the strong foundations of the Compact and signals a step change in ambition: more signatories, deeper allocations to private markets, and a clearer commitment to backing UK assets. That includes a renewed focus on revitalising the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange as well as the Aquis Exchange, which play a critical role in supporting high-growth companies that drive innovation, jobs and productivity. If we want those firms to scale in the UK, we must ensure they have the capital to do so. This is not just about better pension outcomes, it is about building a more dynamic, competitive investment ecosystem. Delivering long-term, sustainable growth is crucial and the City of London Corporation is delighted to have partnered with industry and Government to bring this ambition to life.

    Zoe Alexander, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the PLSA, said:

    UK pension schemes already invest billions in UK growth assets. This accord demonstrates the collective ambition of the DC sector to do even more, as well as its confidence that the UK will provide the right opportunities to invest, consistent with schemes’ fiduciary duty to members. The Government, in its turn, has committed to take action to ensure there is a strong pipeline of investable assets for pension schemes. With everyone playing their part, there is great potential to boost returns for savers while providing vital funding to productive growth areas.


    More information

    • This is a voluntary expression of intent by seventeen signatories. The Mansion House Accord has been jointly led by the ABI, City of London Corporation and the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association. 

    • Signatories to the new commitment include: Aegon, Aon, Aviva, Legal & General, LifeSight, M&G, Mercer, Natwest Cushon, Nest, NOW: Pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the People’s Pension, SEI, TPT Retirement Solutions and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). 

    • The signatories to the Accord have stated that £252 billion of assets are subject to the pledge. Based on historical growth rates (which have been halved to reflect a maturing market (17% per annum)) and reflecting further consolidation in the pensions market, this could rise to around £740 billion by 2030.  

    • The £50 billion and £25 billion cash estimates for investment unlocked are indicative and assume current private market investment levels are at 3.5%, of which 40% is UK-based. These are increased to 10% and 50% respectively by 2030 in line with the Accord.   

    • Some providers have indicated they may exceed the private markets investment targets in the Accord, which could lead to additional investment.  

    • Investments will support UK growth sectors, including clean energy infrastructure and innovative small businesses. 

    • Government Actuary Department Analysis from 2024 found that a portfolio with greater exposure to private markets – including infrastructure and private equity – delivered stronger returns than a baseline portfolio comprised largely of overseas equities.   

    • The Pensions Investment Review interim report was published at Mansion House 2024, with the final report due Spring 2025. 
    • Pictures will be published on HMT’s Flickr following the signing event.

    Stakeholder commentary:

    Andy Briggs, Phoenix Group CEO, said:

    This Mansion House Accord will unlock investment in UK private markets while helping deliver better long-term returns and retirements for millions of pension savers. The new commitments have the potential to strengthen the economy by fuelling the growth of British businesses and boosting investment in critical infrastructure.  

    Phoenix Group has already taken a lead by launching Future Growth Capital — the first private market investment manager formed to deliver the commitments made in the initial Mansion House Compact — committing £2.5bn over three years to the UK’s most exciting, innovative and fastest growing companies. The Accord is the natural next step, and we’re proud to play our part in delivering better outcomes for our customers and for the wider society.

    Patrick Heath-Lay, Chief Executive Officer of People’s Partnership, provider of People’s Pension, said:

    People’s Pension has a vital role to play in the exciting, shared vision for the future of the pensions’ industry, which will see bigger, stronger, value-driven schemes that will deliver better value to their members. By signing this Accord, we are reaffirming how seriously we take our commitment to delivering better outcomes, as well as helping to drive UK economic growth.

    David Lane, Chief Executive of TPT Retirement Solutions, said:

    By reaching an agreement with pension providers to invest in UK productive finance in a mutually beneficial way, the Government can achieve its objective and support better outcomes for scheme members. Many pension schemes already invest in productive finance, and most are open to investing more in the UK. Investment in assets such as infrastructure, transportation, housing, venture capital and private markets can play an important role in improving risk-adjusted returns for members while also contributing to economic growth. 

    Meeting the Government’s objectives while also maintaining fiduciary duty and ensuring strong returns for members are not mutually exclusive ambitions. However, hurdles remain around value for money considerations and the availability of suitable investment opportunities. These should be a focus for Government policy to spur more investment. The most pressing issue to deal with is that provider pricing practices leave very little room in the annual management charge for investment fees. There needs to be a shift to a value for money approach that considers the returns from an investment and not just its fees.

    Jelena Croad, Head of LifeSight GB, said:

    Signing up to the Mansion House Accord is a significant step for LifeSight. We believe that private market investments can increase overall returns as part of a diversified portfolio and have already begun investing in this way.  

    Our ability to invest in private markets, without increasing existing fee agreements, showcases our dedication to providing the best possible outcomes for our members. We are excited to be part of this initiative and look forward to contributing to the growth of the economy in which our members live.  

    We are pleased that the government acknowledges the need to increase the pipeline for UK private market investment opportunities. This recognition aligns with our mission to support the growth of innovative firms and sustainable infrastructure within the UK, ultimately enhancing the retirement incomes of millions of UK pension savers.  

    For LifeSight members, these investments are being made as part of our main default funds, ensuring that our members benefit from high-quality investment opportunities.

    Steve Charlton, a member of SPP’s DC Committee and DC Managing Director at SEI, said:

    Due to ongoing collaboration and open dialogue between the industry and the UK government, we have become comfortable with the proposed changes to the Mansion House reforms. This accord demonstrates our collective ambition to have a consolidated workplace pension environment that provides flexibility and choice for pension funds to invest where they see opportunity, whilst balancing their responsibility to members. 

    We welcome the government’s commitment to ensure a good flow of investable opportunities for pension schemes. This mitigates our previous concerns about the risks of high-priced, poor-quality investments in an environment where the originally proposed investable opportunities are scarce. It enables everyone to play their part in helping to deliver better member outcomes and drive economic growth.

    Lorna Blyth, Managing Director – Investment Proposition at Aegon UK, said: 

    Aegon UK is proud to be a signatory of the Mansion House Accord, which aligns with our aim to deliver better long-term outcomes for our pension scheme members. 

    We are committed to ensuring our customers can access and share in the potential growth and success of new, innovative companies as part of diversified portfolios. Leveraging our partnership with the British Business Bank, along with our scale and expertise, we are dedicated to developing investment solutions that improve the retirement outcomes of the millions of members of the defined contribution pension schemes we support. We’ve made significant progress in becoming a DC provider fit for the future – but our journey doesn’t end here. 

    The Accord is a key element of the Government’s growth agenda, alongside other initiatives likely to transform the UK’s DC pensions market. It comes as the conclusions of the Pensions Investment Review are expected imminently and further fundamental changes are expected in the Pension Schemes Bill later this spring. This makes it essential that the Government adopts a pragmatic approach to implementation. Realistic timeframes and a steady supply of high-quality UK investment opportunities across all private asset classes are crucial for ensuring success. This includes collaborating with more organisations such as the British Business Bank to provide access to diverse types of private assets – from private equity to infrastructure, which are all vital for optimising member benefits and developing investment portfolios designed for long term growth.

    Amanda Blanc DBE, Aviva Group Chief Executive Officer, said:

    This is a major opportunity for the pension and investment industry to support UK growth while delivering improved outcomes for pension savers. As a significant investor in private markets, Aviva has recently launched a number of funds to give over four million workplace pension customers even greater opportunity to invest in UK assets, including innovative, early-stage businesses, and we want to do much more.

    Jo Sharples,  CIO, DC Solutions at Aon, said:

    We believe that investing in private assets will benefit pension scheme members by delivering better expected returns over the long-term, ultimately resulting in higher retirement outcomes. The new Mansion House Accord is a great step forward in achieving this and is a fantastic example of how the UK pensions industry can work together to break down barriers to enable greater investment in private assets.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Royalty Pharma to Present at Upcoming Investor Conferences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Royalty Pharma plc (Nasdaq: RPRX) today announced that it will participate in the following upcoming investor conferences during the month of May:

    • BofA Securities 2025 Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, May 14 at 5:20 p.m. ET / 2:20 p.m. PT
    • RBC Capital Markets 2025 Global Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, May 20 at 4:05 p.m. ET

    The webcasts will be accessible from Royalty Pharma’s “Events” page at https://www.royaltypharma.com/investors/events/. Webcasts will also be archived for a minimum of thirty days.

    About Royalty Pharma

    Founded in 1996, Royalty Pharma is the largest buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties and a leading funder of innovation across the biopharmaceutical industry, collaborating with innovators from academic institutions, research hospitals and non-profits through small and mid-cap biotechnology companies to leading global pharmaceutical companies. Royalty Pharma has assembled a portfolio of royalties which entitles it to payments based directly on the top-line sales of many of the industry’s leading therapies. Royalty Pharma funds innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry both directly and indirectly – directly when it partners with companies to co-fund late-stage clinical trials and new product launches in exchange for future royalties, and indirectly when it acquires existing royalties from the original innovators. Royalty Pharma’s current portfolio includes royalties on more than 35 commercial products, including Vertex’s Trikafta, GSK’s Trelegy, Roche’s Evrysdi, Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya, Biogen’s Tysabri and Spinraza, AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson’s Imbruvica, Astellas and Pfizer’s Xtandi, Novartis’ Promacta, Pfizer’s Nurtec ODT and Gilead’s Trodelvy, and 15 development-stage product candidates. For more information, visit www.royaltypharma.com.

    Royalty Pharma Investor Relations and Communications

    +1 (212) 883-6772
    ir@royaltypharma.com

    The MIL Network –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: Northstrive Biosciences Signs Binding Term Sheet with Modulant Biosciences for Exclusive Global Animal Health Licensing of EL-22

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Binding term sheet grants Modulant Biosciences exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize EL-22 for animal health, enabling a first-of-its-kind probiotic approach to muscle preservation in livestock.
    • This collaboration represents a strategic opportunity for Northstrive to monetize the intellectual property of EL-22 in the animal health sector. If EL-22 is successfully developed and brought to market, the license could become a long-term revenue-generating asset.

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Northstrive Biosciences Inc. (“Northstrive”), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) (the “Company,” “PMGC,” “we,” or “our”), today announced the signing of a binding term sheet with Modulant Biosciences LLC (“Modulant”). This binding term sheet outlines the terms for a future definitive licensing agreement for Northstrive’s licensing of certain intellectual property rights related to EL-22 in the field of animal health. This license would allow Modulant to use the relevant intellectual property for uses in animal health (“Intellectual Property”), including use as a feed additive. Excluding the Republic of Korea, the license would be worldwide and exclusive, and give Modulant the exclusive right to sub-license the relevant intellectual property globally.

    The Intellectual Property consists of those patents and applications set forth in the definitive licensing agreement, including at least: (i) U.S. Patent 8,470,551, (ii) U.S. Patent Application No. 19/19,191,246, and (iii) U.S. Patent Application No. 19/191,258. The definitive licensing agreement will establish a framework for the parties’ collaboration, sharing of intellectual property, and commercialization oversight, with a focus on livestock and other veterinary markets.

    “Targeting the myostatin pathway with a probiotic approach could be a breakthrough for achieving improved body composition in livestock and companion animals,” said Modulant Biosciences CEO Tom Campi. “The licensing of EL-22 will enable us to evaluate the muscle-building properties of the modified lactobacillus casei for treating livestock and supporting the industry’s environmental efforts.”

    Modulant Biosciences is led by Tom Campi, a seasoned biotechnology executive with extensive experience in animal drug development and commercialization. Dr. Campi is board certified by the American College of Poultry Veterinarians and has previously worked for Elanco Animal Health and Huvepharma. His more than 25-year career path has included roles in poultry technical consulting, leadership roles in US and European regulatory affairs and technology acquisitions.

    As part of the financial terms, Modulant will pay Northstrive a share of all revenues generated from sublicensing and commercial activities. Northstrive will receive a percentage of all such revenues until a certain dollar limit, after which the royalty rate will decrease. The definitive licensing agreement will also include provisions for the parties’ co-ownership of new intellectual property developed by Modulant, certain sublicensing rights, and annual updates from Modulant about licensing and commercialization efforts for the licensed technology.

    The parties intend to finalize and execute the definitive license agreement in the coming months, pending necessary approvals from Northstrive’s head licensor for certain intellectual property rights related to EL-22.

    About Northstrive Biosciences Inc.

    Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. company, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. Northstrive’s lead asset, EL-22, leverages an engineered probiotic approach to address obesity’s pressing issue of preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. For more information, please visit www.northstrivebio.com.

    About PMGC Holdings Inc.

    PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries. Currently, our portfolio consists of three wholly owned subsidiaries: Northstrive Biosciences Inc., PMGC Research Inc., and PMGC Capital LLC. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit https://www.pmgcholdings.com.

    About Modulant Biosciences LLC

    Modulant Biosciences is a biotechnology company specializing in veterinary medicine innovation. Led by Dr. Tom Campi, Modulant is focused on developing novel drugs and biologics for livestock and companion animals. Currently, Modulant’s synergistic pipeline includes first in class antivirals for livestock and companion animals and a “One Drug for All Cancers” platform.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” and “future” or similar expressions such as “look forward” are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described more fully in PMGC’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    IR Contact:
    IR@pmgcholdings.com

    The MIL Network –

    May 14, 2025
  • MIL-OSI: CareCloud Named “Top Healthcare IT Pick for 2025” by Maxim Group; AI Initiative Recognized as Key Growth Driver

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOMERSET, N.J., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CareCloud, Inc. (Nasdaq: CCLD, CCLDO) (“CareCloud” or the “Company”), a leader in healthcare technology and generative AI solutions, today announced that Maxim Group, LLC (“Maxim Group”), a leading investment bank, securities and wealth management firm, has selected CareCloud as its “Top Healthcare IT Pick for 2025,” citing the transformative potential of its artificial intelligence strategy, together with its strong financial results and renewed M&A activity.

    “Given its positive outlook and attractive valuation, CareCloud is positioned to be our top healthcare IT pick in 2025,” said Allen Klee, CFA, Managing Director and Senior Equity Research Analyst at Maxim Group, in a research report released May 7, 2025. In the same report, Klee noted that CareCloud trades at a 2026 EV/EBITDA multiple of 5.0x, which indicates a significant discount compared to the identified peer group average of 12.5x—an opportunity he believes enhances the Company’s investment appeal.

    “We are honored to be named Maxim’s ‘Top Healthcare IT Pick for 2025,’” said Stephen Snyder, Co-CEO of CareCloud. “This endorsement underscores the power of our disciplined strategy and our commitment to transforming healthcare operations through scalable, purpose-built AI.”

    Maxim’s report highlights several factors contributing to CareCloud’s momentum, including the launch of its AI Center of Excellence, strong positive free cash flow, resumption of preferred dividends, and a return to M&A-driven growth. The firm also emphasized CareCloud’s AI suite—featuring tools like cirrusAI Notes, cirrusAI Appeals, and cirrusAI Voice—as a core differentiator.

    The recognition follows CareCloud’s strong Q1 2025 performance, including 52% year-over-year adjusted EBITDA growth and the successful launch of its AI Center of Excellence. This strategic initiative, which was officially announced in April with an inaugural team of more than 50 AI engineers, data scientists, and healthcare domain experts, is expected to scale to 500 AI professionals by year-end, positioning CareCloud as a healthcare industry leader in applied artificial intelligence.

    “AI is now deeply integrated into our operations—from documentation and revenue cycle management to patient engagement and analytics,” said Hadi Chaudhry, Co-CEO of CareCloud. “This is not an add-on, it is a foundational capability that is changing how healthcare is delivered and experienced.”

    As CareCloud continues to execute on its growth strategy, the Company remains committed to delivering enterprise-grade, cost-effective technology that helps healthcare organizations achieve better outcomes, higher efficiency, and sustained financial performance.

    About CareCloud

    CareCloud brings disciplined innovation to the business of healthcare. Our suite of AI and technology-enabled solutions helps clients increase financial and operational performance, streamline clinical workflows and improve the patient experience. More than 40,000 providers count on CareCloud to help them improve patient care, while reducing administrative burdens and operating costs. To learn more about our products and services, including revenue cycle management (RCM), practice management (PM), electronic health records (EHR), business intelligence, patient experience management (PXM) and digital health, at carecloud.com. To listen to video presentations by CareCloud’s management team, read recent press releases and view the latest investor presentation, please visit ir.carecloud.com.

    Follow CareCloud on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

    About Maxim Group

    Maxim Group is a leading full-service investment bank, securities, and wealth management firm headquartered in Midtown Manhattan. Founded in 2002, Maxim Group offers a comprehensive suite of financial services, including investment banking, equity research, wealth management, and brokerage services. The firm is a registered broker-dealer with the SEC, FINRA, and SIPC, and is known for its deep expertise across multiple sectors, including healthcare, technology, and energy. Maxim Group employs over 200 professionals and maintains a strong presence in the financial services industry. For more information, visit https://www.maximgrp.com/about.

    Disclaimer

    This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

    Maxim Group’s designation of CareCloud as a Top Healthcare IT pick reflects the independent opinion of its equity research analyst as of the date of the published report. CareCloud does not provide compensation for Maxim Group’s analyst coverage, and no endorsement is implied. Maxim Group’s opinions, analyses, conclusions, and the facts upon which it relied in developing the same, are its own independent work product and CareCloud neither endorses nor adopts the same.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to anticipated future events, future results of operations or future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “shall,” “should,” “could”, “intends,” “expects,” “plans,” “goals,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “predicts,” “possible,” “potential,” “target,” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

    Our operations involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, and any one of which, or a combination of which, could materially affect our results of operations and whether the forward-looking statements ultimately prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements reflecting management’s expectations for future financial performance and operating expenditures, expected growth, profitability and business outlook, the impact of pandemics on our financial performance and business activities, and the expected results from the integration of our acquisitions.

    These forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are only predictions, are uncertain and involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our (or our industry’s) actual results, levels of activity or performance to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity or performance expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of the risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements, including without limitation, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company’s ability to manage growth, migrate newly acquired customers and retain new and existing customers, maintain cost-effective global operations, increase operational efficiency and reduce operating costs, predict and properly adjust to changes in reimbursement and other industry regulations and trends, retain the services of key personnel, develop new technologies, upgrade and adapt legacy and acquired technologies to work with evolving industry standards, compete with other companies’ products and services competitive with ours, and other important risks and uncertainties referenced and discussed under the heading titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company does not assume any obligations to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    SOURCE: CareCloud

    Company Contact: 
    Norman Roth 
    Interim Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Controller 
    CareCloud, Inc.
    nroth@carecloud.com 

    Investor Contact:
    Stephen Snyder 
    Co-Chief Executive Officer 
    CareCloud, Inc. 
    ir@carecloud.com 

    The MIL Network –

    May 14, 2025
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